Science Gallery

LUMMOBLOCKS

Two-player game experience, 2011

LUMMO: Mar Canet , Carles Gutierre z, Jordi Puig , Javier Lloret [ES]

Lummoblocks is a new version of the legendary Tetris. Designed to create a playful and interactive, space-located experience in open urban settings, it’s a social game that encourages uncontrolled and spontaneous interaction from the public. It was first visualized and tested on the digital LED facade of Media Lab Prado in Madrid and subsequently shown from February 2010 to February 2011, where it was shown to have a positive impact on by-passing pedestrian traffic. The mechanism is similar to the one of the original Tetris; players must create as many lines as they can before any piece gets to the top. The game is designed for two players, one is in charge of moving the Tetris piece and the other one changes its orientation. It starts automatically when players are located on the game area. When no players are in the game area or the game is over, an idle video is played in loop in order to explain how to play. The software is made in C++, OpenCv and Openframeworks, and uses computer vision techniques in order to track players. The tracking system uses an IR camera and two symmetric lights of 1000 Watts with red IR filter. The system is designed to work during the night.

"“Lummoblocks makes use of the familiar Tetris game to introduce a totally new gaming experience. The game does not require sharp or fast responses from the user so anyone can play, from young kids to elderly people. Moving the body right to left for few metres is enough to control the position of the Tetris piece. The player is no longer focused on solving the puzzle with the smartest geometrical solutions, but instead has to aim at communicating well with their partner to achieve smooth cooperation.”"